Conveyer marker



April 28, 1953 MANN 2,636,436

CONVEYER MARKER Filed June 8, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l "in I I INVENTOR. 1 9 M Zflflwn/ MWM ATToeNEX April 28, 1953 M. MANN CONVEYER MARKER,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 8, 1949 INVENTOR.

ATTOE/YE S.A.E.

Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER MARKER Max Mann, New York, N. Y.

Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,763

17 Claims. I

'- The present invention relates to a marking device comprising a printing stamp having a rotary die with controlled spacingelements actuated by a package, to print upon the package in a manner to impart the print in a definite position upon the package as it moves by the marker on a conveyor to give only a single imprint at an adjustable and predetermined position thereon.

' Various markers of the art have generally comprised rotary printing dies which continuously rotate in contact with the article moving by, thereby giving a continuous print across the surface as it moves by, and moreover, many times such print when applied in the same plane as the moving surface to be printed upon is imperfect, smudged, or incomplete.

In contrast, the present marker is resilient and actuated by the moving package itself so that it will only print when the'package is in position before the marker to receive the print and has a spacing element to control the printing die. Since the moving package actuates both a'spacing element and the printing die the packages may be spaced closely or at wide intervals on the conveyor and the print is imparted upon the package ina predetermined space which may be varied by adjustment ofthe marking device so that each package will receive the print in the particular pre-selected spot.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide actuation means for a printing die by a'moving article to be marked, the marking being effected by friction of the moving body against the marker.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide spacing means for gripping the moving package providing delayed printing action and adjustable to measure the exact point at which printing action will begin.

It is a further object to provide a resiliently mounted rotating marking element to conform to the plane of the surface of the body to be marked and impart thereto, by rolling action,

a clearly legible print.

It is a further object to provide a resiliently mounted rotary printing die constructed to stop after a single print.

Other objects are inherent in the construction shown and of which various modifications will occur to one skilled in the art; the present construction shown being illustrative for purposes of explaining the principles of the present invention. The invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings herein of which,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled marking device which will be mounted beside a conveyor.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device showing operation of both the spacer and printing die in alternate positions.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the marker taken on the lines 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed drawing showing the spacer element in contact with the package to be printed while the printing die is in inactive position but cooked and ready for printing, taken on .the line of 44 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an analogous detail in sequence following Fig. 4 showing the printing die beginning to print, the spacer element being rotated to inactive position, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows a package with a single centered printing thereon, as would be formed by use of the present marker.

The device comprises a framework In, having upper and lower plate-like supporting element H and I2 generally cast as an integral part of the frame I0, suitably supported on adjustable rods i3, to be held rigidly beside a conveyor. The upper and lower plates H and [2 are slotted and machined at l 4 with horizontal slots opening from the forward printing face of said plates and extending through most of the surface of the plate, to receive in a sliding fit the vertically supported printing and spacing assembly between sliding supports l5 and I 6 through an elongated sleeve l7 rotatably mounted in the supports 15 and I6 and journaled in bushings I8 to rotatably support said sleeve H, the entire assembly being thereby radially slidable in said sliding groove l4 while being rotatable about sleeve l1.

Centrally mounted about and rigidly fixed to sleeve l1, and supported through a hub 20, is a cylindrical printing element l9 carrying on the periphery thereof printing indicia of rubber or other suitable printing die element materials 2|. The peripheral outer edge 22, thereof may likewise be of rubber or may be of serrated metal adapted to form a guide capable of gripping and frictionally rotating the cylindrical printing die l9 with the moving surface to be printed upon. The cylindrical printing element 19 has a curved segment 23, cut therefrom to form a hollowed outer portion of discontinuity of the cylindrical printing surface, whereby on frictional rolling contact of the printing die with the surface to be printed rotation will be discontinued when the hollowed out portion is reached, as shown in the dotted line section of Fig. 2, at which point the 3 package to be printed engages a roller 24, suitably journaled in the cutaway face of cylinder l9 to bypass the cylindrical printing element 19 without causing further rotation thereof, the roller 24 at this position bearing against the package surface allowing it thus to roll by after printing.

Slidable supports 15 and I6 are adjustably fixed by pins 29, mounted axially of the sliding slots 14 bored and threaded into the inner ends of sliding supports l and is, said pins '29 further being slidable through holes 39, bored axially of the slots M in the plates H and i2. The threaded pins 29 each carry an outer stop collar 3i adjustably threaded thereon which definesthe limit at which supports it and i6 may extend outwardly from the slots 14. Supports I5 and I6 are biased outwardlyof said slots 14 against stop 3| by compression springs 32, mounted in slots l4, and about pins 29, bearing against the supports l5 and I3 and the inner end of slots M to resiliently hold the supports in extended position outwardly of said slots. Mounted centrally within sleeve 11, is a rotary shaft 33 and supporting at each end spacer discs 34 of circular contour, each disc having a curved segment =35 cut from the periphery thereof to define an inactivatedposition of the discs in contact with the package surface, in which position the discs do not rotate as shown in Fig. 2. The peripheries of the discs 3c are serrated to allow frictional engagement by the package surface and rotation thereof and the shaft 33 to which they are pinned to be rotated thereby as the package moves by. The shaft 33 and discs 34 are resiliently supported in sleeve I! on washers 3'6 and s'pririgt'i whereby there is substantially free and independent rotation of both discs as a unit with respect to the rest of the printing assembly.

Each of the spacer :discs is radially aligned with each other sothat the cutaway portions 35 lie in the same vertical plane, and arerigidly fastened to shaft33 in this position by any suitable fastening elements 33 to rotate together.

One of the discs 34 carries an abutment 38 rigidly fixed thereto on the under side thereof. Pinned to one end of sleeve H for rotation therewith is an adjustable dog or protuberance 39 which may be fixed in any suitable position about said sleeve ll through set screw 30. adjustable position, the dog 39 protrudes out and extendsin'to the radial path of shoulder 38 on disc'3'4 so that after su'fiicient rotation of "sleeve 1 1 the dog 39 will engagethe shoulder 38 so that when the printing element and sleeve [1 on which it is mounted is rotated in one direction, the dog 39 ultimately engages shoulder 38 of the friction discs 34 and rotates the same therewith. "Continuous rotation of the friction discs 34 alone will allow shoulder 38 to disengage from Thus in gated as is shown in Fig. 3 to pivotally carry therewith link arm 46 which in turn is pivoted for easy rotation about sleeve ll.

' at its opposite end 4? to a sub link 38, the inner end of which is integral with bushing l8 mounted Sleeve ll has mounted about and rigidly fastened thereto,

'said dog 39 and the friction discs spacer assembly may, therefore, rotate almost 360 degrees before again engaging the dog 39 and rotating the printing element attached to sleeve ll therewith.

Mounted on each side of the cylindrical printing element l-9 are a pair of inking rollers 25 having a surface of conventional ink absorbent pad material rotatably supported through shafts 126 in aligned grooves 2 in both upper and lower plates H and 12 for rotary support and easy demountability. The ends of each of the shafts 26 are engaged by tension springs 28 resiliently urging both linking rollers 25 into inking contact with the printing die surface 2|.

c Pivotallyv-mounted above plate Ii through pivot for rotation therewith ratchet gear 49 mounted directly beneath bushing i8. Link arm 48 carries beneath its surface a pawl 59 pivotally supported "thereto-at 54, said pivoted construction supporting :pawl- 59 indirect engagement with ratchetgear 48, said pawl being resiliently constrained in continuous engagement withsaid gear t9 by hairpin springifi.

With the leverand link construction, asthus describedactuation of trip arm. 42 by the package, causes it to swing on pivot M drawing links 46 and 18 as shown in the dotted line portion of Fig. 2-. Such actuation by a moving package against said trip arm .42 and its links 66 and. interconnected throughmatchet -49 and pawl 50 will cause sleeve l7 and the rotary printing cylinder l9, fastened thereto, to rotate through la. short are adjustable as hereinafter explained. ;.As dog 39 upon sleeve ll may be in direct bearing "contact with shoulder 38,-r0tation of said sleeve 'i'i through actuation of this link and lover system, will also cause spacer discs 34 to rotate a similar distance or a lesser distance, depending upon'how .far dog 39 must be rotated before it begins to bearagainst stop 38. It can thusbe seen that byproper setting of the dog '39 on sleeve 17 a certain amount of lost motion may be obtained upon rotation of the printingcylinder 49 through the link and lever system prior to actual activation of the spacer element, 1. 'e.-'the number of degrees the dog -39 on sleeve I 1---must be rotated prior'to bearing on stop 38 inspacer disc 34 for rotation of the same.

A shoulder 53 is provided outside of the. arc of movement of lever 42- on plate H and is bored and threaded in its upper portion 153 andisplit from the side 54 into the bore for receiving an adjustable-stop screw 55 and clamping by-set screw 58 the same therein in adjustably fixed position. Cooperating with said adjustable stop :screw 55 is an abutment 51 rigidly "mounted :on

said lever 42. A spring 58 ismoun-tedin tension between the inner end of lever '42 near pivot-44 and plate H and resiliently constrains lever 42 and the vlink system pivoted thereto :to

its'extended trip arm position and against :stop set screw '55 through shoulder 51 to constrain the.link -and=leversystem described, to open-operative position ready for activation by a moving package as shown in the full line position of Fig. 2. It will be noted from this construction that movement of stop screw '55 allows adjustment of the portion of trip lever 42 to short ;or long arcuate movement and has the practical effect of controlling rotation of the printing die 19 and spacer discs 34 ultimately movable therewith through dog 39 and stop 38. As thusd escribed spacer discs 34 are of larger diameter than the printing cylinder .19 except is depressed through the links 46 and 48 attached thereto, and with pawl 5i! engaging ratchet gear 49, the'entire assembly, printing cylinder l9 and spacer discs 34, will be rotated-through a short are suflicient to present the frictionally rotatable peripheral edges to the package for rotation as "adjusted both by the stop screw 55 maintaining the initial position of lever 42 and the set relationship of'the' dog 39 which may bear directly against shoulder 38 or may have some preadjusted lost motion prior to hearing thereon depending upon the spacing desired. After full tripping of trip lever 42, the package has passed into this position as shown both in the dotted line portion of Fig. 2 and the partially'rotated portion of Fig. 1.

The spacer discs 3'4 being of greater diameter and therefore protruding farther from the assembly than the printing cylinder i9 will be first engaged by the package and the instrument will be so set as to project the spacing discs into the path'of the package to be printed. Since the 'whole assembly is resiliently mounted in'sliding groove I4 the exact position of the package is relatively unimportant and the package enga'gi ing the assembly will resiliently grip both spacing discs at the surface to be'printed'and resiliently ba'ck'the entire assembly along the sliding grooves 14 to a point where both spacing discs 34 through their serrated edges firmly engage the surface to be printed on the package and will be- "gin to rotate as" the package moves by. Shoulder 38 upon disc 34 will leave dog 39 after spacer discs begin to rotate on the surface of the package, and, since the printing die 19 is of lesser diameter, the package will not be touched thereby while spacer discs rotate on the moving package, but will remain in the cocked position ready i'o'r 'printing in the position set by the original tripping of the lever 42 in the manner shown both in Figs. 1 and detailed Fig. 4.

When the spacer elements 34 have rotated throughout their normal are by frictional passage of the package surface, and when the spacer disc diameter begins to recede' as'the cutaway segmentte is reached, rotation of spacers will cease. At this point of decreased diameter the spacer merely slides on the moving package surface and the whole rotating assembly',"actuated by springs 32 will move 'outward'against the package and the printing cylinder I9 wi1l first 'engage the surface of the package for printing the'substance corresponding to the surface of the printing die 2|. In this position the serrated edgeor gripping edges 22 friction-ally grip the package and the entire printing die l9 now rotates with the moving surface, spacer discs 34 remaining inactivated, as shown in Fig. 5. As the package moves by, therefore, printing die l9 will be rotated until the cutaway portion 23 "thereof, comes into contact with the surface of -;the package, at which point zthesurface of the package will bear against roller 24 and the entireprinting assembly will then" remain inacti- -vated; the package rolling by, hearing only against the roller 24, with a minimum of friction; It will be appreciated by use of spacer elements of various diameters any desired spacing is possible. By adjustment of dog 39 and by adjust ment of stop screw 55, great flexibility in positioning of the print is possible with a given size of spacer while applying a single imprint upon each package. The exact spacing of packages upon the conveyor is unimportant so long as they are separated by some spacesufiicient to release trip arm 42 for recocking 'by the next package, which will be printed upon, whatever the rate of travel past the marker, substantially at the center-thereof or in a pre-adjusted position before or after the center, as desired. Thus, "a single'imprint is imparted by the device as shown to each package and since the printing element is resiliently mounted, a clear print is invariably obtained. The marker, itself may be supported atyarious heights by'adjustment of rods l3 beside the conveyor (notshown) and if desired a counter element 58 may be mounted. to the frame 'Ill with a projecting arm 60 placed in the path of lever 42 to trip the same and thus derive a count of the number of packages printed, if desired. The printing die is linked by both rollers Has it rotates. Various other means of supporting the framework Ill may be used, for example,'it may be supported through bored ears 6| at'a suitable position beside the moving conveyor. The construction herein shown is practical and the entire assembly is easily demounted' for cleaning or replacing of printing elements' or spacing discs by release of set pins 29. Both inking rollers 25 are easily removed through slots 27 by release of springs 28. Various modifications of the apparatus herein will occur to those skilled in the art and it is intended that the specific embodiment of the invention hereinabove set forth be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, except as set forth in the claims hereinafter.

I claim: 1. In a printing device a rotary "mounted cylindrical printing die having a segment cut axially from the periphery thereof, said cutaway portion acting as a stop'to terminate rolling printing action of said die in contact with a surface to be printed, at least one "circular spacer disc rotatably mounted cc-axial with said printing'die, said disc being of larger diameter than said printing die and having a segment cut through the circular periphery to define a peripheral portion discontinuing the regular arcuate' portion contiguous therewith, whereby said disc will terminat'e its rolling action when the cut-away portion bears against a fiat surface, thereby "acting as a rotary stop for the disc'in-contact' with the surface capable of receiving print, said' out segmental portion of said. disc being of lesser diameter than the outer periphery of said printing di'e, whereby said printing die is capable of imparting print only when the cut segmental portion of the spacer disc is adjacent the surface to be'printed.

2. -In a printing device a rotary mounted cylindrical printing die having a segment cut ax- -ially from the periphery thereof, said cutaway portion acting as a stop to terminate rolling printing action of said die in contact with a surface to be printed, annular spacer discs rotatably mounted at each end and co-axial with said printing die, said discs being of larger di- ;amete rthan said printing die and having similarly out segments from the peripheries thereof to effect a rotary stopping action incontact with the surfacecapable of receiving print, said out segmental portion of said discs being of lesser diameter than the outer periphery of said printing die, whereby said printing die is capable of imparting print only when the cutsegmental portion is adjacent the surface to be printed, said printing cylinder and at least one of said spacer discs having cooperative stop projections contacting'each other for unitary rotary motion of both the printing cylinder and spacer elements at only'one point of their arc of rotation whereby continuous rotation of eitherrotaryunit through a, sufficient arc will engage the other unit to bind both for rotation together, said cylindrical printing element and said spacer ele- "ment, co -axiall.y therewith, being slidably mount- 'ed ina frame with both the periphery and cutawayportions thereof extending outwardly thereof vfor continuous contact with a moving printable surface and means biasing said printing cylinder outwardly of said frame for imparting resilient pressure of said printing element against the surface to be printed.

3. Printing device having a cylindrical rotary printing die mounted therein for printing by a frictional rolling contact with the surface to be printed, a segment cut axially through the pe riphery of said cylinder'defining a discontinuous region acting as a stop against the surface to be printed whereby rotary action is discontinued, a pair of rotatably mounted annular spacer'memhere at each end thereof co-axial therewith for substantially independent rotation, said annular members having a greater diameter than said printing cylinder, said annular members having aligned cutaway segments in the peripheries thereof similarly defining a flat portion tending to discontinue rotary motion in contact with a flat surface, said cutaway segments of said spacer members extending sufficiently deep from the peripheries thereof to define a portion'a shorter distance from the axis thereof than the periphery of the printing cylinder whereby when the surface to be printed is in contact with the cutaway portion of said annular members the periphery of said-cylindrical printing member will bear against the surface to be printed, means interconnecting both the printing cylinder and said annular members at only one point of their 360 degree arc of rotation, and means for rotating the said arcuate peripheries into contact with the surface to be printed.

4. A printing device adapted to be mounted beside aconveyor for imparting a single imprint upon pack? e carried thereon, said printing demounted therein in position for printing by rolling contact with the surface of a package moving by on said conveyor, a segment cut axially through the periphery of said cylindrical printing die defining a discontinuous region of the cylindrical surface thereof acting as a stop against the surface to be printed whereby rotary action is discontinued in contact therewith, a trip arm extending into the path of a moving package on said conveyor and adapted to rotate said printing cylinder to a degree sufficient to bring the printing surface into rolling contact with the printable surface of the package moving on said conveyor.

5. A printing device adapted to be mounted beside a conveyor'for imparting a single imprint upon a package carriedthereon, said printing device having a cylindrical rotary printing die mounted thereon in position for printing by rolling contact with the surface ofa package moving lay-on said conveyor, a segment cut axially through the periphery of said cylindrical printing die defining a discontinuous region of the cylindricalsurface of said printing die acting as a stop against the surface to be printed whereby rotation thereof is discontinued in contact therewith,'spacer means mounted-on said printing cylinder adapted to hold the surface thereof out of printing contact with the surface to be printed fora predetermined distance of movement of said package, a trip arm extending "into the path 'ofthemoving'package on-said conveyor and adapted to rotate said printing cylinderandactuate' said spacer means 'to a degree sufficient to bring-the arcuate' portions of the printing element-surfaceinto spaced rollingcontact with-a printable surface of the package moving onsaid conveyor.

6. A printing device adapted to be mounted be;- sidea conveyor for imparting a single imprint upon a package carried thereomsaid printing device having a cylindrical rotary printing die mounted therein in position for printing by'rolling contact with the surface of a package moving by on said conveyor, :2, segment cut axially through the periphery of saidcylindrical printing die defining-a discontinuous :region ;of the cylindrical surface of said printing die'acting-as a stop against the surface to be printed whereby rotation thereofis discontinued in contact therewith, a pair of rotatably mounted spacer memhers at each end of said-printing cylinder-coaxially therewith for substantially independent rotation, said annular-members having a greater diameter than said cylindrical printing die, said annular spacer members having aligned cut away segments in the peripheries thereof similarly defining a flat portion acting as a stop to discontinue rotation thereof in contact with the surface to be printed, said cutaway segments of said spacer elements extending sufiicientlydeep from the surface thereofto define a portion a shorter distance from the axis thereof than the periphery of the printing cylinder Whereby'whenthe surface to be printed is in contact with-the cutaway portion of said annular members the 'periphery of said cylindrical printing member-Will bear against the surface to be printed, mean interconnecting both the printingcylinder and said annular members at only. one point of their 360 degrees are of rotation, a trip arm extending into the path of a moving package on said conrotor and adapted to rotate said printing cylin der and spacer means to a degree sufficient to bring the arcuate portions of the spacer elements and printing die into rolling contact with the printable surface of the package moving on said conveyor.

"LA printing device adapted to be mounted beside a conveyor for imparting a single imprint upon a package carried thereon, said printing device having a cylindrical rotary printing die mounted therein in position for printing by rolling contact Withthe surface of a package moving by on saidconveyor, a segment cut axially through the periphery of said cylindrical printing die defining a-discontinuous region ofthe cylindrical surface of said printing die'acting 'as a stop against the surface to be printed whereby rotation thereofisdiscontinued in contact there- With,2, pair of rotatably mounted spacer memhers at each end of said printing cylinder iaxially therewith for substantially independent rotation, said annular members having agreater diameter than said cylindrical'printing die,

said annular spacer members having aligned cutaway segments in the peripheries thereof similarly-defining a-flat portion acting as a stop to discontinue rotation thereof in contact with the surface to be printed, said cutaway segments of said spacer elements extending sufficiently deep from the surface thereof to define a portion a shorter distance from the axis thereof than the periphery of the printing cylinder whereby when the surface to be printed is in contact with the cutaway portion of said annular members the periphery of said cylindrical printing member will bear against the surface to be printed, means interconnecting both the printing cylinder and said annular members at only one point of their 360 degrees are of rotation, said cylindrical printing element and said spacer elements, coaxial therewith, being slidably mounted in a frame with all peripheries and cutaway segmentalportionsthereof extending ,outwardly of said frame for continuous contact with the moving printable surface of the package and means resiliently biasing said printing and spacer ele ments outwardly of said frame for imparting resilient pressure of said elements against the moving surface of the package to be printed for frictionally engaging the same, a trip arm extending into the path of a moving package on said conveyor and adapted to rotate said printing cylinder and spacer means to a degree sufficient to bring the arcuate portions of the spacer elements and printing die into rolling contact with the printable surface of the package moving on said conveyor.

8. Printing device for printing on moving surfaces comprising means actuated by the moving printable surface for setting a rotary printing die in printing relation thereto and means actuated by the same moving surface for delaying the printing action to impart print to such surface at a preselected position thereon, said rotary printing die being resiliently biased against said printable surface and engaged and rotated by movement in frictional contact therewith to impart print to said moving surface, said rotary printing die having a segment cut axially from the periphery thereof whereby the cut-away por- I tion acts as a stop to terminate the rotary printing action of said die.

9. The printing device as defined in claim 8 wherein the means actuated by the moving surface for delaying printing action comprises a trip arm extending outwardly of said printing device adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of an article comprising said moving surface, said trip arm pivotally coacting with said printing die to rotate the same to print imparting position against said moving surface.

10. Printing device adapted to impart a single print to a preselected position on the surface of an article moving on a conveyor positioned beside said printing device, said printing device comprising a rotary printing element having a segment cut axially from the periphery thereof, said cut-away portion acting as a stop to terminate rotary printing action ofsaid printing element in frictional rolling contact with the moving surface to be printed, a spacing element delaying operation of said printing element for a preselected distance from the edge of the moving surface of the article on which printing is to be effected, and a trip arm extending into the path of said moving article, the saidtrip aim being pivotally mounted on said printing device'to rotate said rotary printing element'to a positionwherein the arcuate peripheral portion is in printing alignment with said moving surface, the arcuate move- "ment of the outer extendingportion of said trip therewith a pair of inking rollers. I

- 13. Printing device as set forth in-claim -lfl whereinboth the rotary printing die and spacin element areslidably'mouhted in a 'frame and radially biased into resilient contact with'th'e article to, be printedupon. 1 151. The combination of a rotary printingdie with a rotary spacing element-said spacing le ment being adapted to rotate in frictional rolling contact with a relatively moving surface to be printed upon and to hold said printing die out of rotary printing engagement therewith whereby said printing die is inoperative only for a preselected space measured by said spacing element prior to actuation of said printing die against the relatively moving surface upon which print is to be applied.

15. Printing device comprising a rotary cylindrical printing die having a spacing element operative to delay printing action of said rotary printing element, said spacing element comprising a circular member mounted coaxially with said rotary printing element adapted to be rotated by a surface for receiving print moving relative thereto, said spacing element being of larger diameter than said printing element and having a segment cut away from the periphery thereof to be of lesser diameter at the cutaway portion than the diameter of said printing element.

16. In a conveyor marker, a rotary mounted cylindrical printing die having a segment cut axially from the periphery thereof, said cut-away portion forming a relatively flat surface stop to terminate rotation in contact with the moving surface to be printed, said cylindrical printing element being mounted to slide radially in a frame with both the arcuate periphery and cut-away portions thereof extending outwardly thereof for continuous contact with a moving printable surface, means biasing said printing cylinder outwardly of said frame for imparting resilient pressure of said printing element against the surface upon which print is to be imparted, a trip arm pivotally mounted on said frame having one end thereof extending outwardly into the path of a moving article upon a conveyor positioned beside said marker, upon which print is to be imparted, the outwardly extending end of said trip arm being adapted to be engaged by an edge of said moving article for pivotal rotation thereby, the inner end of said trip arm being linked to said rotary printing die, to impart rotation thereto by the pivotal movement of the trip arm, whereby the cylindrical portion of said printing die ma frictionally engage said moving article for imparting print thereto.

1'7. Printing device adapted to be mounted beside a conveyor for imparting a single print in a preselected position onthe surface of an article movingv bythe printing device on said conveyor, said printing device comprising a frame havinga rotary printing die mounted for rotation therein and resiliently biased outwardly thereof, said ro tary die being generally cylindrical in configurationand having a portion thereof cut away axially thereof to form a relatively flat surface contiguous with the cylindrical surface thereof, said rotary printing die being adapted to rotate by frictional engagement of the cylindrical surface portion thereof with the surface of a moving article upon which print is-to be imparted, the relatively fiat surface-contiguous with the cylindrica1= portion of said printing die acting as a stop against which the surface to be printedslides to terminate the rotary movement-of the print.- ing diein contact said moving article, and a trip arm pivotally mounted on said frame having one end linked to a ratchet and. pawl mechanism mounted upon one end of said rotary printing element whereby pivotal movement of said trip arm will rotate said printing element through a short are to print imparting position, the other v12 end ofsaid-trip armiextending outwardlyof said printing device and adapted to be engaged by'an edge of themoving article upon which printis to be imparted, said trip arm upon rotation upon its pivotby the passage of said article engaging the sameeifecting a spacing of the print upon said moving surface.

WAX MANN.

References Cited in the of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,290,509 Chandler Jan. 7, 1919 1,455,160 Yo'shinaga May 15, 19 3 1,540,081 Manischewitz June 2, 1925 2,039,566 Swanson May 5, 1936 2,130,897 Ogden Sept. 20, 19 38 2,136,897 Thayer Nov. 15, 1938 2,195,135 Serai Mar. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 245,271 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1947 

